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Planning analyst vs material analyst

The differences between planning analysts and material analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a planning analyst, becoming a material analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a planning analyst has an average salary of $68,137, which is higher than the $66,092 average annual salary of a material analyst.

The top three skills for a planning analyst include project management, customer service and data analysis. The most important skills for a material analyst are supply chain, logistics, and MRP.

Planning analyst vs material analyst overview

Planning AnalystMaterial Analyst
Yearly salary$68,137$66,092
Hourly rate$32.76$31.77
Growth rate11%28%
Number of jobs92,38048,758
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4448
Years of experience46

What does a planning analyst do?

As a planning analyst, you will be responsible for designing and implementing a company's business and marketing strategies with the goal of driving profits and reducing costs. You will propose measures to enhance an organization's overall efficiency, and guide managers on ways to strengthen profit margins through risk awareness reduced costs, and increased revenues. Other duties include conducting risk analyses to identify areas of potential failure, maintaining the business continuity program, and handling internal and external corporate communications with the investment community and industry analysts.

What does a material analyst do?

A materials analyst is responsible for managing the assets and materials of an organization, ensuring the adequacy of office inventories to support business operational functions. Materials analysts identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They handle the distribution of goods and order processes according to the company's supply chain management. A materials analyst must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially in conducting data and statistical analysis to obtain high-quality materials that would meet the customers' demands.

Planning analyst vs material analyst salary

Planning analysts and material analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Planning AnalystMaterial Analyst
Average salary$68,137$66,092
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $93,000Between $49,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCUnion City, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaMicron Technology
Best paying industryAutomotiveAutomotive

Differences between planning analyst and material analyst education

There are a few differences between a planning analyst and a material analyst in terms of educational background:

Planning AnalystMaterial Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Planning analyst vs material analyst demographics

Here are the differences between planning analysts' and material analysts' demographics:

Planning AnalystMaterial Analyst
Average age4448
Gender ratioMale, 53.4% Female, 46.6%Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage12%7%

Differences between planning analyst and material analyst duties and responsibilities

Planning analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage 160 footwear SKUs across 3700 stores to ensure optimal inventory depths during peak time frames.
  • Reduce work in process inventory by use of KANBAN system which also lead to improve customer service.
  • Manage suppliers (KPI's) to deliver target cost, service and quality levels in each operating center.
  • Manage cross-functional team which successfully create a manual for ISO 9000 certification and develop a training program for new hires.
  • Lead monthly and quarterly EAC forecasting and consolidate forecasts in support of corporate financial reporting.
  • Prepare requests for quotes (RFQ) and requests for improvement (RFI) for distribution to existing and potential suppliers.
  • Show more

Material analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage over 120 raw materials on KanBan and daily delivery systems.
  • Create and manage MPS (master production schedule) for MAU factory.
  • Manage and expedite delivery to ensure on time delivery (OTD) to customer.
  • Communicate with suppliers and MRO's on a regular basis to manage projects and ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Manage WIP inventory into/out of multiple distribution plant locations.
  • Experience in integrate logistics and manage hardware material requirements to support production programs that exceed productivity goals.
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Planning analyst vs material analyst skills

Common planning analyst skills
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Logistics, 6%
  • Strong Analytical, 5%
  • SQL, 5%
Common material analyst skills
  • Supply Chain, 17%
  • Logistics, 7%
  • MRP, 7%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • Part Numbers, 4%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%

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